Snow-Melt

BENEFITS OF SNOW-MELT:

Snow-melt systems are becoming more and more popular, especially in areas where nature conservation is important. Snow-melt systems eliminate all of the other necessary chemicals and pollutants used today to keep areas free of ice and snow. No more salt to track indoors! No more uneven melting!Streams and rivers no longer get polluted with unnecessary additives.

Snow-melt systems also protect your investment. Slabs last longer. Salt and other chemical additives will begin to break down the surface of a concrete slab over the years. For brick paver applications, snow-melt systems provide a certain amount of physical protection. Keep dangerous snow plows away and retain the beauty of your investment!

WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED:

In an Uponor Snow and Ice Melting System, PEX tubing is buried in concrete, asphalt or sand and circulates a warm water/glycol solution to heat the surface and melt ice and snow, eliminating the costs and hassle of salting, sanding, plowing and shoveling.

Can be paired with alternative energy sources such as geothermal and waste heat to operate nearly cost-free

Takes advantage of alternative heat sources such as biomass, geothermal or waste heat from within a structure for virtually cost-free operation

Winters in New England can be tough, especially when you have to deal with the Snow – plowing, shoveling, and salting your driveway, walkway, or stairs all season long!

John Perry – Radiant and Snow-Melt System Installation at TACO

Our snow-melt systems operate in conjunction with an automatic activation device that will turn on the system when it senses precipitation and freezing temperatures and turn off the system when temperatures are above freezing. These types of devices ensure the system is only active during useful periods and reduces wasteful energy consumption.

Operating costs vary by energy source (natural gas, propane, or Oil) used and costs associated. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers have standards intended to achieve satisfactory results and to minimize energy consumption from over sizing or over designing a system. Systems are typically designed to produce 70-170 BTU/sqft using ASHRAE guidelines by region. The time to melt snow from a surface varies by storm and how many BTUs the system is designed to produce.

A Snowmelt system functions even during a storm thus improving safety.

The fluid is warmed to temperatures of 70°F to 140°F to warm surrounding concrete/asphalt/concrete pavers and melt snow and ice.

Mechanical system technology for hydronic snowmelt systems is based on the same technology as radiant heating systems.